CHAPTER 13

Laramie had appeared on the Wyoming prairie in the 1860s, a tent city near the Overland Stage route. By the time the first Union Pacific train arrived there in 1868—close to a year before the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory, Utah—more permanent buildings had begun to appear. But even five years later, with a school and churches, homes and stores, Laramie retained its reputation for lawlessness.

It was late in the afternoon when Silver and Jared guided their horses across the railroad tracks beneath the shadow of the towering windmill and water tank. Silver looked at every building, wondering if Bob might be inside one of them. Could she be lucky enough to find him this soon? Even if she found him, would she recover what he’d taken from her father? And would recovering what Bob stole be enough to redeem herself in her parents’ eyes? If people in Twin Springs learned she hadn’t been with her sister in Denver but instead had been alone on the trail with a bounty hunter—

Well, that didn’t bear thinking about. And besides, she didn’t care what they thought. Nothing inappropriate had happened. Nothing inappropriate would happen. How could it? Jared Newman hardly seemed to know she was alive, let alone that she was a woman. Which was fine with her.

As they rode past a hotel, her thoughts changed abruptly. What she wouldn’t give for a hot bath and a night between real sheets on a soft mattress. It felt like a year rather than days since they’d stayed at the Colorado Hotel in Central City.

Jared stopped his pinto in front of Mabel’s Restaurant in the center of town. “You go in and order us some dinner. I’ll ride over to the train station and see what I can find out.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No. I prefer to do this alone.”

Too tired to argue with him, she stepped down from the saddle. “What do you want to eat?”

“Doesn’t matter. Whatever you decide you want, I’ll have the same.”

She wrapped the mare’s reins around the hitching rail, then reached for the packhorse’s lead rope and did the same. Jared nudged his gelding toward the depot and rode away without another word.

Silver was on the boardwalk, about to enter the restaurant, when she heard a woman’s voice exclaim, “Jared Newman! As I live and breathe!”

She turned in time to see Jared stop his pinto, then quickly dismount. A moment later he embraced the petite woman. Silver couldn’t see her face, but she wore a pale brown dress, and her strawberry blonde hair peeked from beneath a straw hat. Jared’s expression as he released his hold said that he was more than a little glad to see her.

Something twisted in Silver’s belly.

The woman took hold of Jared’s hand and led him toward the nearby saloon, pausing only long enough to let him tie up his horse.

Silver’s mouth dropped open. Hadn’t he been in a hurry to go to the train depot to ask questions? And why so quick to go with that woman into the saloon? Did a pretty face make him forget his hunger and his mission? Obviously so. Well, Silver hadn’t forgotten what needed done. It didn’t take a genius to inquire if someone had seen Bob. She could do it herself.

She set off in the direction of the train station.

It had been better than four years since Jared had seen Whitney Hanover and her husband, Tom. They’d lived in Kansas at the time. The Hanovers were two of the few people Jared could call real friends and not just acquaintances.

“What are you doing in Laramie?” he asked Whitney as she drew him through the swinging doors of the saloon.

“We live here now.” She motioned with her hand. “We own the Red Dog Saloon.”

Jared swept the room with his gaze. “Where’s Tom?”

“Over at the bank. He’ll be back soon. Please, sit down and wait for him. He wouldn’t forgive me if I let you get away before he could see you.”

Jared obliged, taking a chair beside a green felt–covered card table. He looked around the room a second time. Since it was empty of customers, it appeared the Red Dog was not a popular establishment. “How long have you been here?”

“About three years now. Nothing was the same in Topeka, even after you helped clear Tom’s name. So we decided to pack up and start over again farther west. Tom worked for the railroad for a while. That’s how we came to be in Laramie. When we had the chance to buy this saloon, we decided to stay for good.”

“A lot different from owning a millinery shop, isn’t it?”

She laughed. “Very. But more profitable. A woman can always find a reason to put off buying a new hat, but men seem to like their liquor no matter what.”

Jared glanced toward the bar. How could it be profitable without customers?

Whitney must have read his mind. “We’re closed today because of a funeral in town. We’ll open up at seven tonight.”

He looked at her again. She wore a simple and prim brown dress, and her face still had the innocent, well-scrubbed appearance that he remembered. “I can’t quite picture you working in a saloon, Whitney.”

“I don’t work in it. I keep the accounts upstairs while Tom tends to business in the saloon. We’re happy here. It suits us.”

“I’m glad to find you so content. It’s obvious that leaving Kansas was a good decision. Your smile tells me that.” He grinned. “And Tom’s a wise man. If you were my wife, I’d keep you out of sight too. Much too pretty for your own good.”

She blushed a pretty pink. “The saloon isn’t why I’m so happy. It’s motherhood that’s done that. Tom and I have a son. Thomas Jr. We call him TJ. He’s two and keeps me running all the time.”

A son. Jared grinned at the news.

Four years ago Tom Hanover’s life had been a total shambles. Accused of murder, he’d depended on Jared discovering and bringing in the real killer and clearing his name. Whitney had sold her hat shop and their home to pay for her husband’s legal defense and Jared’s services. But the tide of public opinion had turned against Tom the same way some so-called friends had turned away. Many of those same people, after Tom was cleared of the crime, were too embarrassed by their behavior to act like friends again.

But from Whitney’s look, they’d put that dark time behind them. They’d started over, with new hopes and new dreams and even a new family.

He was surprised to realize he envied the Hanovers.

The railroad station clerk behind the counter peered at Silver over the rim of his glasses. “Who’d you say you was lookin’ for?”

She swallowed a sigh. “Their names are Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Carlton. But it’s possible they aren’t traveling together. If they are, they may have purchased their tickets here in Laramie to someplace farther west. We think it could be to Nevada.”

“Miss, lots of people come through Laramie, and I sure as shootin’ don’t meet ’em all or get their names.” His eyes narrowed. “What’re you lookin’ for them for, anyhow?”

“It’s a . . . a family matter.” Her cheeks grew warm. “But it’s urgent that I find Mr. Cassidy.” She leaned forward, gripping the edge of the counter. “Please try to remember, sir. They would have come through Laramie within the last two weeks. Mr. Cassidy is a tall man, a little over six feet, and he’s clean shaven. He has pale yellow hair and blue eyes.” She touched her right eyebrow. “And he has a small white scar right here.”

The clerk’s expression altered. “Come to think of it, I guess I have seen the man you’re lookin’ for. But not here at the station. It was in town. He was at the Red Dog Saloon. Good-lookin’ fellow with yella hair, just like you said. Not more’n five or six days ago. He was gamblin’ heavy that night. I remember ’cause folks were still talkin’ about it the next day.”

Gambling? With her father’s money. Had he lost?

As if hearing the question, the clerk added, “Ain’t often the house loses, but they did that night.”

“The house lost?”

“Your friend came out the winner at the table. Seems like there was another man with him.”

She felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. “Do you know where they’re staying?”

“Sorry. Far as I know, they left town. I’m pretty sure I’d’ve heard if the fella you’re lookin’ for was still around. Unless he decided to give up card playin’—and that’s not very likely when a man’s on a winnin’ streak.”

Silver took a step back from the counter. “Thank you for your help, sir. It’s appreciated.”

“It’s possible they bought passage when I wasn’t here. I’m not the only clerk.”

“Thank you,” she repeated before turning away.

Her heart was pumping fast by the time she returned to the center of town, intent on informing Jared of what she’d learned. It wasn’t until she was almost to the saloon where she’d last seen him that she realized it was the same saloon where the railroad clerk said Bob had been gambling.

She ignored the Closed sign hanging on the hinged door, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. She stopped on the threshold. Save for Jared and the woman he’d embraced outside on the boardwalk, the large room was empty—no surprise since the saloon was closed for business. Jared and the pretty blonde were seated at a table not far from where Silver stood, enjoying what appeared to be an intimate conversation, just the two of them in the shadowy light of the saloon.

As if Jared had nothing better to do. As if he hadn’t been pushing hard to get to Laramie in as few days as possible only to forget why he’d come there. As if he hadn’t agreed to find Bob Cassidy for the reward. As if Silver no longer existed.

“Mr. Newman.”

Startled, Jared glanced up, then got to his feet. “Miss Matlock? What is it?”

“Bob was here in Laramie.”

“Did someone at the restaurant tell you?”

“No, not at the restaurant. I learned it from the railroad clerk.”

“I thought you were ordering our dinner.”

If I had been, it would have gone cold before you remembered it. She lifted her chin. “I saw that you were busy here”—with this woman—“so I took it upon myself to begin the investigation without you.”

Jared frowned as he moved toward her.

“Bob was in Laramie, in this saloon, just a few nights ago. Gambling.” She took a breath. “With my father’s money.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “You said Tom will return soon?”

“Yes,” the woman answered. “I’m not sure why it’s taking him so long.” She rose, walked to where Jared and Silver stood, and offered her hand to Silver. “Jared has forgotten his manners, so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Whitney Hanover.”

The woman, perhaps five years Silver’s senior, was even more attractive up close. Her complexion was flawless, her eyes a beautiful green, her figure perfection even in that plain brown dress. Men were surely drawn to her like bees to a flower. Silver felt the grime of the trail on her skin and wished she’d had a bath before telling Jared what she’d learned at the station.

“How do you do?” Reluctantly, she took hold of the proffered hand. “I’m Silver Matlock.”

“Let’s sit down, shall we? My husband should return any moment now.”

Her husband. How strange that those words caused Silver’s annoyance to vanish in an instant.

Tom Hanover’s delight in seeing Jared was as genuine and heartfelt as his wife’s had been. But Jared didn’t allow them to spend much time in small talk.

“Tom, we’re looking for a man. Someone”—he searched for the right word—“close to Miss Matlock.” He glanced at Silver. “Tell him what Cassidy looks like.”

She did so.

“Yes,” Tom answered with a nod, “he was here. He played cards at our tables for several evenings in a row. The last time was three nights ago.”

Three nights. They were closer than Jared had dared hope they might be. “Anyone else with him?”

“Yes. Although they might not have come in together. But they seemed well acquainted. Had their heads together a time or two. Other one was shorter, had hair a bit darker. He didn’t seem any too happy, even with his friend winning big. Both of them were new to Laramie—or at least they were new to the Red Dog.”

“Either of them still in town that you know of?”

Tom shook his head. “They took the westbound train out of Laramie on Saturday morning. I know because I was at the station, picking up a shipment that came in on the same train. I saw them board with about a dozen other folks. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sorry to see that Mr. Cassidy leave town. His winnings made a sizable cut into our profits.”

It wasn’t Bob Cassidy who had brought Jared to Laramie, but perhaps he’d be able to find the wayward fiancé for Silver while continuing his search for his true prey. Obviously Cassidy wasn’t worried about anyone looking for him, or he wouldn’t have made his presence in town so obvious. That kind of behavior would work in Jared’s favor.

Whitney touched his arm with her fingertips, drawing his attention. “You and Miss Matlock must eat here and stay the night with us. We have rooms upstairs for you both.”

“Yes,” Tom chimed in. “You must stay. It’s the least we can do for you after what you did for us.”

Silver looked at Jared, curiosity in her gaze, obviously wondering what Jared had done for the Hanovers.

He ignored the look and nodded his assent to Tom. He wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.